► Joke Book is a creative thesis, a collection of comic personal essays, somewhat in the spirit of Montaigne, in which I trace the impact of…
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▼ Joke Book is a creative thesis, a collection of comic personal essays, somewhat in the spirit of Montaigne, in which I trace the impact of several pivotal jokes on my life. Among other digressions, I give a mathematical theory of comedy using the Fibonacci sequence, mostly fail to read Kierkegaard’s Repetition, try to blame lutefisk for the bitter character of Saskatchewan humour, reflect on my experiences in Skit Skit (a mildly successful local sketch comedy troupe in my city of 250,000), and tell of the time my father brought home his malfunctioning Wang (Laboratories Computer). In the process, I give an incomplete though still exhaustive account of my life and my surroundings (namely, rural Saskatchewan since 1985), and reflect on racism, class, sexism, television, memes, hip-hop, and, again, lutefisk. Sometimes bordering on the absurd, the work is more footnotes than actual prose, and more sizzle than steak. It also details the author’s complicity in the wrongful accusation and subsequent murder of a chicken in 1993, when the author was eight years old.
Advisors/Committee Members: Findlay, Leonard, Parkinson, David, Surtees, Doug, Lynes, Jeanette.

► Loneliness is associated with paradoxically self defeating behaviour, in which social contact is simultaneously desired and rejected. This behaviour can manifest in various ways. Lonely…
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▼ Loneliness is associated with paradoxically self defeating behaviour, in which social contact is simultaneously desired and rejected. This behaviour can manifest in various ways. Lonely people may, for example, unwittingly decline objectively needed services such as home care. For several reasons, lonely older men may be particularly prone to rejecting offers of support. While refusals are often seen as a win for the right to live at risk, the victory can be hollow when it does not translate into a better quality of life. Often an older man can be persuaded to accept services, but sometimes these efforts fail. In such situations, our traditional understanding of the law leaves concerned third parties with two undesirable options: take no further action or categorise the person as incapable to override his decision making rights. This dilemma is a sad consequence of overcorrecting the medically-dominated approach to elder care with a highly libertarian perspective that lets individuals needlessly suffer. In our pursuit of unfettered individualism, the law has given insufficient weight to internal constraints such as loneliness which affect one’s exercise of free choice, yet keep them below the incapacity threshold. Therefore, in this thesis, I propose an intervention approach to loneliness that is not paralysed by the legal fiction of capacity: invoking a superior court’s protective jurisdiction. Through a therapeutic jurisprudence lens, I draw on the evolution of the parens patriae jurisdiction in Canada and a recent line of English case law to argue that a superior court’s protective jurisdiction may be used to help lonely older men age-in-place. I then propose a framework for invoking the jurisdiction. Specifically, I outline the general circumstances in which a court may be justified in exercising the jurisdiction, and I suggest that dignity ought to serve as the guiding principle. Then using B.C.’s laws as a point of reference, I identify the legislative gap which exists in adult guardianship/protection and mental health laws. Next I propose that the jurisdiction ought to be exercised in the most effective, less intrusive manner. I conclude with a discussion of some practical challenges of using the jurisdiction.
Advisors/Committee Members: Surtees, Doug, Carter, Mark, von Tigerstrom, Barbara, Goodridge, Donna, Plaxton, Michael.

► Recent polls suggest that less than half (46%) of Canadians are confident in the criminal justice system (CJS) as a whole (e.g., Roberts, 2004). Low…
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▼ Recent polls suggest that less than half (46%) of Canadians are confident in the criminal justice system (CJS) as a whole (e.g., Roberts, 2004). Low levels of public confidence are problematic, as the criminal justice system relies on public support in order to function effectively (Casey, 2008). Previous research has found that attitudes toward the CJS are typically based on misperceptions and misinformation, with the public being unaware of the functioning of the CJS as well as crime trends (e.g., Doob, 2000). Therefore, it seems logical that providing the public with factual information about crime and criminal justice may lead to increased confidence. A handful of studies conducted in the United Kingdom have shown that, in general, public education does lead to increased confidence (e.g, Hough & Park, 2002). However, questions pertaining to the mode of delivery have been raised (Singer & Cooper, 2009). Therefore, three studies were conducted in order to further investigate this issue as well as to delve into the differences between ‘active’ and ‘passive’ learning. Whereas active learning refers to being actively engaged in the learning process through various means (e.g, discussion, problem-solving), passive learning refers to passively obtaining information, such as by listening or by reading (Prince, 2004). Before attempting to change public opinion of the CJS, it is crucial that we first have a comprehensive understanding of what these opinions and attitudes are. As such, Study 1, a quantitative survey of CJS knowledge and attitudes, and Study 2, qualitative focus groups, were conducted. Results from these two studies were used to develop materials for Study 3: Increasing confidence in the CJS through education. As has been found in past research, participants who received CJS information had a higher level of knowledge than controls, who received information about Canada’s health care system. Interestingly, the type of learning (active vs. passive) did not have an effect on CJS knowledge. However, an effect was observed in regards to confidence and satisfaction: Participants who received CJS information through active learning were more confident in the CJS and had a higher level of satisfaction. These results have important implications for real-world interventions.
Advisors/Committee Members: Wormith, J. Stephen, Dalby, J. Thomas, Surtees, Doug, Marche, Tammy, Olver, Mark.

Tanasichuk, C. L. (2010). Increasing confidence in the criminal justice system through public education. (Thesis). University of Saskatchewan. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/10388/etd-11172010-172342

Note: this citation may be lacking information needed for this citation format:Not specified: Masters Thesis or Doctoral Dissertation

Chicago Manual of Style (16th Edition):

Tanasichuk, Carrie L. “Increasing confidence in the criminal justice system through public education.” 2010. Thesis, University of Saskatchewan. Accessed June 07, 2020.
http://hdl.handle.net/10388/etd-11172010-172342.

Note: this citation may be lacking information needed for this citation format:Not specified: Masters Thesis or Doctoral Dissertation

Tanasichuk CL. Increasing confidence in the criminal justice system through public education. [Internet] [Thesis]. University of Saskatchewan; 2010. [cited 2020 Jun 07].
Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/10388/etd-11172010-172342.

Note: this citation may be lacking information needed for this citation format:Not specified: Masters Thesis or Doctoral Dissertation

Council of Science Editors:

Tanasichuk CL. Increasing confidence in the criminal justice system through public education. [Thesis]. University of Saskatchewan; 2010. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/10388/etd-11172010-172342

Note: this citation may be lacking information needed for this citation format:Not specified: Masters Thesis or Doctoral Dissertation

4.
Sowden, Justina.
Examining the relationship of risk, treatment readiness, and therapeutic change to recidivism in a sample of treated sex offenders.

▼ The present study examined the interrelationship of risk for recidivism, treatment readiness and responsivity, treatment-related change, treatment attrition, and recidivism among sexual offenders. It provided a cross validation of selected risk assessment measures, including the Static-99R, STABLE 2007, and Violence Risk Scale – Sexual Offender version (VRS-SO), as well as a clinical rating scale, the Treatment Readiness, Responsivity, and Gain Scale: Short Version (TRRG:SV). The primary focus of the study was to evaluate the relationship between treatment-related change and recidivism. The study was archival and participants included 185 federally incarcerated adult male sex offenders who participated in the Clearwater Sex Offender Treatment Program at the Regional Psychiatric Centre (Saskatoon, SK) between 1997 and 2001 and were followed up for an average of 9.3 years (SD = 3.0) post-release. Twenty percent of the sample was convicted for a new sexual offense, 45% for any new violent (including sexual) conviction, and 61% for any new conviction. The Static-99R, STABLE 2007, and VRS-SO all predicted violent recidivism (AUC = .62 to .72), as did the TRRG:SV (AUC = .32 to .37). Moreover, the dynamic risk measures demonstrated significant incremental validity, controlling for the Static-99R, in the prediction of sexual and violent recidivism. Treated participants made significant pre- to post-treatment changes on the VRS-SO, STABLE 2007, and TRRG:SV. Changes on the VRS-SO were significantly associated with lower rates of violent recidivism, with and without controlling for pre-treatment risk. Changes on the TRRG:SV were significantly associated with lower rates of sexual and violent recidivism. Significant predictors of treatment attrition were identified in the domains of criminal history, pre-treatment risk, treatment readiness and responsivity issues, and institutional adjustment. Implications for offender assessment, management, and rehabilitation are discussed.
Advisors/Committee Members: Olver, Mark, Wormith, Stephen, Nicholaichuk, Terry, Surtees, Doug, Nunes, Kevin.

Sowden, J. (2013). Examining the relationship of risk, treatment readiness, and therapeutic change to recidivism in a sample of treated sex offenders. (Thesis). University of Saskatchewan. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/10388/ETD-2013-11-1305

Note: this citation may be lacking information needed for this citation format:Not specified: Masters Thesis or Doctoral Dissertation

Chicago Manual of Style (16th Edition):

Sowden, Justina. “Examining the relationship of risk, treatment readiness, and therapeutic change to recidivism in a sample of treated sex offenders.” 2013. Thesis, University of Saskatchewan. Accessed June 07, 2020.
http://hdl.handle.net/10388/ETD-2013-11-1305.

Note: this citation may be lacking information needed for this citation format:Not specified: Masters Thesis or Doctoral Dissertation

Note: this citation may be lacking information needed for this citation format:Not specified: Masters Thesis or Doctoral Dissertation

Council of Science Editors:

Sowden J. Examining the relationship of risk, treatment readiness, and therapeutic change to recidivism in a sample of treated sex offenders. [Thesis]. University of Saskatchewan; 2013. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/10388/ETD-2013-11-1305

Note: this citation may be lacking information needed for this citation format:Not specified: Masters Thesis or Doctoral Dissertation

► The disability community is one of the largest minority groups vulnerable to social exclusion and marginalization, too often forced into poverty, unemployment and social isolation…
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▼ The disability community is one of the largest minority groups vulnerable to social exclusion and marginalization, too often forced into poverty, unemployment and social isolation through dependence on the state. This is the result of systemic discrimination, and is being challenged by the social model of disability which frames disability as a political creation: it proposes that barriers, prejudice, and exclusion created by society (purposely or inadvertently) are the ultimate factors defining disability. The social model empowers people with disabilities to dismantle barriers so they have choice, flexibility, and control to gain the dignity, autonomy, equality, and solidarity associated with human rights and citizenship, and calls for research that takes an emancipatory approach and has a political commitment to confront oppression and exclusion. This interdisciplinary Master’s thesis looks at the ways co-operatives can be vehicles for inclusion and empowerment for the disability community. It looks particularly at the multi-stakeholder model of co-operative, which is especially promising for the empowerment of the disability community as it brings together different member categories in an appropriate form of interdependence. My research uses case study methodology to explore how socially constructed barriers are the impairment to development in the disability community and to identify successes where informal multi-stakeholder co-operatives have been used to empower people with disabilities through analysis on four dimensions: how consumer-controlled the co-op is, use of multi-stakeholder alliances, promotion of the social model of disability, and ability to promote economic inclusion and social solidarity. The disability community needs new opportunities for empowerment and community development to overcome disadvantage and marginalization, and this thesis explores the potential of multi-stakeholder co-operatives, vis-à-vis the social model of disability, to do this. This research will help shape policies needed to foster social inclusion to empower people with disabilities and build disability solidarity through co-operative development.
Advisors/Committee Members: James-Cavan, Kathleen, Fairbairn, Brett, Hammond Ketilson, Lou, Gertler, Michael, Clarke, Louise, Surtees, Doug.

► Students with disabilities have to overcome many barriers when attaining post-secondary education. This thesis investigates how programs and policies affect students with disabilities. Using a…
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▼ Students with disabilities have to overcome many barriers when attaining post-secondary education. This thesis investigates how programs and policies affect students with disabilities. Using a survey-based research method, the project explores the gap that exists between disability policy and programs at the University of Saskatchewan as perceived students. Discussions with disability service providers also informed the study. A communication disconnect between faculty, service providers, and students was found to be one of the key reasons why the gap between program and policies is increasing as opposed to decreasing. Rather than being reliant on the medical model of disability and integrated approach, which includes more social conceptions of disability, related to delivery of programs should be advocated. Reflection on the current literature related to disability and the findings of this thesis lead to a construction of a model. This model advocates the inclusion of disability studies as an integral part of university curriculum using and interdisciplinary approach. The expanded role of disability studies can have a positive influence on university culture, and improve understandings of disability on university campuses, as well as in the broader social context.
Advisors/Committee Members: Wotherspoon, Terry, Surtees, Doug, Schissel, Bernard, Poudrier, Jennifer.

Livingston, A. P. (2008). Disability policy and practice at the University of Saskatchewan. (Thesis). University of Saskatchewan. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/10388/etd-06242008-104333

Note: this citation may be lacking information needed for this citation format:Not specified: Masters Thesis or Doctoral Dissertation

Chicago Manual of Style (16th Edition):

Livingston, Andrew P. “Disability policy and practice at the University of Saskatchewan.” 2008. Thesis, University of Saskatchewan. Accessed June 07, 2020.
http://hdl.handle.net/10388/etd-06242008-104333.

Note: this citation may be lacking information needed for this citation format:Not specified: Masters Thesis or Doctoral Dissertation

Livingston AP. Disability policy and practice at the University of Saskatchewan. [Internet] [Thesis]. University of Saskatchewan; 2008. [cited 2020 Jun 07].
Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/10388/etd-06242008-104333.

Note: this citation may be lacking information needed for this citation format:Not specified: Masters Thesis or Doctoral Dissertation

Council of Science Editors:

Livingston AP. Disability policy and practice at the University of Saskatchewan. [Thesis]. University of Saskatchewan; 2008. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/10388/etd-06242008-104333

Note: this citation may be lacking information needed for this citation format:Not specified: Masters Thesis or Doctoral Dissertation